CURRICULUM @ OLHC
Religious EducationWe believe that, at Our Lady Help of Christians, Religious Education is at the heart of the school curriculum and this is reflected in our vision and mission statement that Jesus is ‘The Way, The Truth and The Life'. This has been embraced by all, allowing the school to provide a quality education based on respect and caring drawing on the Gospel values to enrich OLHC students for life.We seek to provide a wide variety of varied liturgical celebrations and prayer experience to allow children to grow in faith and understanding of the traditions of our church. The children are given the opportunity to participate in the parish sacramental program.
Our Lady Help of Christians strives to live our faith by making our school a welcoming and inclusive community that cares for each individual. The school has in place significant Religious symbols including dedication to Mary - Our Lady Help of Christians. 
NumeracyThe teaching of Numeracy at Our Lady Help of Christians is based on an informed understanding of the progress of each child and a sound knowledge of where to move next to ensure continued development.We use data gathered from a Numeracy Interview with each child and regularly updated information to drive teaching that uses individual and small focus groups activities during a regular hour numeracy block.
To continue to develop a high standard of teaching, the staff undergo regular professional development in the area of Numeracy. The school works in partnership with the community to assist with the implementation of the numeracy program in the classroom, with take-home programs and to assist individuals who require extra support. 
Health and Physical EducationAt Our Lady Help of Christians we believe that the Health and Physical Education area of the curriculum provides students with knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable them to maintain their physical, mental, social and emotional health. This element of education focuses on the importance of a healthy lifestyle and physical activity in the lives of individuals and groups in our society.
Health and Physical Education has the potential to impact on the physical, social, emotional and mental health of students. It promotes the potential for lifelong participation in physical activity through the development of motor skills and movement competence, health-related physical fitness and sport education. Engaging in physical activity, games, sport and outdoor recreation contributes to a sense of community and social connectedness. These are vital components of improved wellbeing. 
Integrated Studies- Units of Inquiry
Our Integrated Studies program is based around the exploration of Units of Inquiry. At OLHC each term our grade levels are exposed to one unit of Inquiry. Each unit has a particular subject focus and will, where feasible, make links to other subject areas. All units of inquiry are planned collaboratively in grade levels, have central ideas, key lines of inquiry, common assessment goals and a series of teacher and student questions that guide the learning process. |
LiteracyAt Our Lady Help of Christians we aim to develop a high standard of teaching through a unified approach using the latest initiatives and practices.
This will enable us to structure a program that delivers high quality teaching that produces data which displays learning at a high level. We are committed to maintaining this high level of education and to continue to stay abreast of new initiatives in this area as they arise. We will focus on the individual and aim to provide specific instruction tailored to their needs. Teachers aim to collect and use data and ongoing assessment procedures to plan their whole class lesson foci and small group focused teaching groups. Intervention - We seek to provide specifically targeted intervention when a child has been identified as not achieving the expected standards. We believe that the parents of our school value proficient Literacy highly. We aim to support and encourage a parent/school partnership where parents confidently and enthusiastically participate in our daily program. 
The ArtsWe believe the Arts are a unique, expressive and creative form of engaging students in critical and creative thinking and help them understand themselves and the world. In every society the Arts play a pivotal role socially, economically and culturally. The Arts fuel the exploration of ideas that cross all emotions and moods through learning using cognitive, emotional, sensory, aesthetic, kinaesthetic and physical elements.
The Arts area of the curriculum encompasses a diverse and ever-changing range of experiences and we aim to expose the children to as many of these as possible to allow them to express themselves creatively. Our school uses the arts disciplines of Art, Dance, Drama, Media, Music and Visual Communication to plan programs that reflect the cultural diversity of students and school communities and the vast growth in information and communications technology that has made arts forms increasingly visible. 
AssessmentWe have a variety of ways of sharing the progress of each child with their families.
Information sessions are held in 1st term, titled Early Steps Conferences.These parent/teacher meetings are designed to open lines of communication early in the year. 3 Way conferences are student, parent and teacher interviews and are held mid-year. These conferences give a voice to the children and allow for opportunities to see a child's strengths, challenges and goals moving forward. Parents may wish to meet with teachers at other times and this is encouraged. In these circumstances arrangements are made for a mutually suitable time. Parents are advised that teachers cannot conduct an interview at the classroom door. First and Third term Communication Journals containing samples of student's work are sent home. Second and Fourth term more formal reports, reflecting progress against the Standards as outlined in the Victorian Essential Learning Statements are sent home. 
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